Week 30: Liturgy of the Eucharist: re-presenting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross

By Archbishop Michael Jackels

Witness Publisher

We call the Mass a sacrifice – the sacrifice of the Mass.

It is a memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, when he died to redeem us, to exchange his life for ours, to save us from hell for heaven.

Indeed, Catholics believe that at Mass the same sacrifice of Christ on Calvary’s cross is mystically re-presented under the sacramental signs of bread and wine.

This memorial is intended to remind us that God took on human nature, with body and blood, so that his body could be given up for our redemption, and his blood poured out for the forgiveness of sin.

Moved only by love, the infinite God suffers the infinite punishment due to our sins against him.